Starring
Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres

Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in the role that established him as an action star.

Frank Dux (Van Damme) has spent most his life being trained by Tanaka to compete in the Kumite, the ultimate martial arts tournament where participants are seriously injured or even killed. Frank abandons his military post to enter and win to honour Tanaka. Two army officers (Norman Burton and Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker) are sent to Hong Kong to bring him back, but Frank eludes them.

Chong Li, the defending champion who has killed a few participants, is played by Bolo Yeung - in his Hollywood introduction - who was schooled in Hong Kong film through numerous kung fu classics.

Trivia: Van Damme does his trade mark splits a total of seven times during the film; the real Frank Dux was the fighting coordinator for this film and whilst many believe his story of the Kumite, including his legions of students, many sceptics allege he is a fraud; the Dim Mak ("Death Touch") is a legendary move fabled in Chinese martial arts folklore where the attacker quickly strikes his opponent several times at various spots on his body.

Directed by
Newt Arnold